Well drilling apparatus



June 11,1935. E. l. sHoE ET AL 2,004,494

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed April 26. 1935.

INVENTORS ATTORNEY.

4 9 A. 0 M n .m o, m n 2 c 5N m w fm o Lul: m5 m h I f w IC s .f 3 L m 1.oob.wl,/4/.%,Iu m w A Dn 9 v...o Y w A 1 o P M 6 Y E G 2 u B o m. n M 1 mem m. n Q l. my w l E L L l f n n f W n m I, Il .I W\1n H m E m .u i: -9 .5 1, m m e n A v im -K 5. @mi u Patented June 11, 1935 WELL `nnrLLrNo APPARATUS,

Esta, i. snee and Forrest C. Landis,

K Pleasant Hill, Ohio v Application April 26, 1933, Serial No. 668,084

Y Y 17 claims. This-invention relates to well drilling appa- One of the principal object'soi theinvention is; to provide afwell drilling apparatus which is simple and economical in construction, easily and `safely operatedgand controlled, highly eiicient `and eectivein operation, and which aiords increased ldrilling 4capacity aswell as minimizing the-likelihood of theI drill or bit sticking in the bore of'lthe well.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a well drilling apparatus of the cable or pern cussion type with a drive iol` the rocker arm which reciprocates the cable, and which posi- `tive1y'eii"ects the upstroke oi-the bit "and then releases the bit,y together with means which then picks up the rocker arm to relieve weight of the rocker arm and related provide cable slackto kgive a substantially free 'gravity fall of the' bit on the cutting stroke.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide' a well drilling apparatusof the character mentioned, with a resilient bumper which engages ,the rocker arm at the termination of the cutting stroke and beforethe start of the lifting stroke, the rocker. armbeing free to rebound from'theyresilient bumper, to vthereby imparta lsharp jerk upwardly on vthe cable and bit to vtion,and without disturbing 'driven engagement with minimize sticking ofthe bit.4

Another object is to provide simple and effective mechanism` for adjusting .the stroke of the bit without interrupting the drilling opera'- ther drive. provideeconomical and unwinding or -rewinding Another object is to `eective mechanism for the cable, which is driven fromy the usual drive for the drill, without reversing the direction of the drive, and'which at the same time affords aneasily controlled and readily adjustable rate of unwind or rewind of the cable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective control for the `sand bucket reel and cable, with a manual control .rne'mber iorregulating'the rate of unwind of the cable fromV they reel for thedescent ofthe sand bucket, and for `connecting the reel in the usual drive for the drill to lift the sand bucket from `thewell.

vOther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection'with the accompanying claims.

reference designateA like parts throughout'. the

'several views thereof,

parts from' the cable and ratus, looking from the opposite side'from that 10 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. fils an enlarged top plan View of. rocker arm and cam drive;

Fig'. 5 is a side elevational View of the clutch which interconnectsvthe band wheel shaft with 'f5 .the cam discs, the vviewtbeing taken from they left-hand side of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail side' elevational View-ofthe cam disc, showing the relative positions ofthe earn surfaces and cam roller'at' the beginning of '20 the upstroke of the bit; i

y Fig. '7 isa View similar to'Fig.` 6,`with the parts in the positions occupied at the termination of the upstroke of the bit and at the'lpoint of re'- lease for the gravity fall oi the bit on 'the/'cutting 25 stroke; y

Fig. 8v is a View similar to Fig. 6, with the parts in the positions occupiedju'st after the start of the cutting stroke of the' bit, with the second cam surface engaging the cam' roller to :3'0 positively move the rocker arm .to relieve weight of the rocker arm and related' parts from the cable to provide a' su stantially free gravity'fall of the bit; i

' Fig. 9 is a view' similar to- Fig. 6, also showing a portion of the rocker arm andsp'ring bumper, with the parts in the positions occupied at substantially the completion vof t e cutting stroke of the'v bit; i 1 y Fig. 10 is a-detail sectionalview of the adjust- '4b' ing mechanism for the stroke'of the bit; taken onv the plane of the line IO-HJ of Fig.y 2, with the frame broken away;4 l ,i

' Fig. 1l is a partial side elevational viewsimlar to Fig. 1, 'showing thefriction drive for the .45 cable feed in a diierent adjusted position;- g

Fig.4 12 is a detail sectional view taken onthe plane of the line lia-l2 rof Fig. 1,. showing the eccentric mounting for the friction pulley shaft; 50 Fig. 13 is aviewsimilar to Fig. 12; With the vpartsin a diiierent position; and' l.

Fig. 14- isan enlarged' sidey elevatonalvview the v sir'nilar to Fig. lof the drive and braking mech-A anism forthesand bucket reel, and controlfthere- 55 for, with other parts omitted `for the sake ofi clearness.

` Referring to the drawings, which disclose a' preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame work or derrick, which may belportable or stationary, is composed of longitudinally extending timbers II) at each side thereof, with cross braces II. At the front or operators end are uprights.

I2 secured by braces [3. The uprights may be formed in several sections secured 'together at I4, and at their upper endpivotally support a drill cable andjsuspends `the usual drilling tools including a bit within the bore of the'well. The apparatus 'shown is a drill of the cable or vpercussion type;

in .which drilling is accomplished by alternately moving `the cable and bit .up and down-to give a series of impacts-of the bit againsty the bottom `of the bore of the well (generally about to 60 za.minute)... .V n f For reciprocatingthe cable, a rocker arm I8 is provided,` which is pivotally mounted interme diate itsends in journals Yi9 carried by one of shown) 'thecross vbraces Il. The rocker arm isformed of, two longitudinally. extending beamswhich are rigidly connected together, and arespaced apart `to receive pulleys 28 and EI therebetween. Each pulley is journalled on apin 22 fastened A`to the spaced-beams of the. rocker arm. Cable i6 passes downwardly from pulley I5 to pulley 2G, ythen under' this pulley and under pulley 2 I, and thence up between the spaced beams and over a spool 23v carried at the opposite end of the rockerfarm VI8. Cable I6 then passes between guide rollers l24' and` 25KA and thence to a reel.- or .bull wheel 25 on which the cable is Wound, and from which it is graduallyunwound as. drilling proceedsand the wellbecomesdeeper. .Y Power-for oscillating rocker arm I8 is obtained by a belt drive (not shown) around band wheel 28, the beltjextending aroundapulley driven by a suitable steam or internal combustion engine or other suitable vsource of f motive power (not Band wheel 28 is pinned to a cross shaft 29 rotatably mounted in bearings 33 fas- ;tened at the upper ends of posts 3| secured to framefV membersy I0. Shaft` 29 passes vfreely through a hollowsleeve 33. Fastened to sleeve -33bynbolts passing through flanges 36 at the opposite ends of the sleeve 33,v are cam discs 34 -and 35. Cam disc 34 carries at its outer side an outwardly yextending annular flange 38 forming a clutch ring or face, with which cooperates 'a conventional type of. expanding friction clutchwhich is -keyedgto rotate with shaft 29. z

n `Any suitable type of clutch may be used. That shown has a collar 4B which is keyed to rotate with shaft 29 but is slidableaxially along the shaft. Collar .40 carries at diametrically opposed Ysides pivot lugs 4I, to which are pivotally connected the adjacent ends of yturnbuckle arms 42. JThe opposite ends of 'arms` 42 ,are pivotally connected tolugs 43 c arriedxat adjacentj'ends 'of clutch shoes 44"whichycarry friction clutch pads 45. The opposite ends of v'clutch shoes 44- are pivotallyvconnected toa ring 41 carried,` by spiders 48' connected to a central collar 49 which ispinned-,to shaft 29. Ring -4 'I Iis additionally supportedby. a brace bar-58r fastened to collar -49. 'A' forked arm 5Irrides within the groove 52 of collar 40, the arm being lpivotally connect- Ledin'fa Vslotedend of lever153 pivoted at54to `cross frame II'. Pivotally connected tojlever 53isa'n arml 55. which vin turn is pivoted to the pulley I5, over which passes the drill cable I6 which then extends downward 29 toward Cam dSC 2,004,494 fir;

upper end of an upright shaft 56 journaled on post 3l. The lower end of shaft 56 carries an arm 58.to which is .pivotally connected one end of a link 59. 'I'he opposite end of link 59 is pivoted to a clutch control lever 60 journaled at 6I on upright I2. Fig. 3 shows the parts in their respective positions with the clutch disconnected. By pulling down on control lever 60 (as'shown in-Fig.'3), this will swing arm 58 clockwise (as shown in Fig. 2)', to rotate shaft y56 and thereby swing arm 55 'andlever'53 toward camy disc 34, which will slide collar 40 axially along shaft y 34. This will straighten out the turnbuckle arms 42 to cause engagement of friction pads 45 with clutch face 38 of disc 34, to thereby connect camdiscs 34 and 35 for rotation with shaft a band wheel 28,.

Eachl ofthe cam discs 34 andr 35 carries on its inner side cam surfaces 64 and 65. As the-cam discs 34 and 35 are identical, except disposed oppositely so as to face each other, and except that the cam disc 34 carries the outer clutch surface 38 as previously described, only. the cam surfaces Eiland for clutch disc N34; are shown in the drawings.` It will, be noted that vtwo separate` and ably supports at its outer ends cam-rollers 69 co'- operating with the cam surfaces of discs 34 and 35 respectively.l Thesecam rollers 69 extendinto the-sides of the cam discs, and ,each bears against .or rolls Aalong ythe exterior side ofv its `respective ycam surface 64 'and the interior siderof itsrespec'- tive cam surface 65. Cam discs with cam surfaces 29 when the'latter -is driven by` are arranged on each side, of .rocker'arm :I8: to

prevent side strain or thrust. y Fig. 6 shows the-relative positions of the rparts at the beginning of the lifting or up.stroke of the bit.v -At this time, the pulley end 20 of rocker arm i8is at .the extreme upper endof its stroke, so that the cable and bit arelowered to thev bottom of the bore of the'well.N Rotation of the cam ldisc in the direction ofthe arrow results in cam surface 64 depressingl cam roller 69 downwardly Vtothereby swing pulleyfendr 28 of rocker I8 downwardly to effect a liftingstroke of the bit.` The' cam drive provides a relatively powerful available lifting force with the use of a relatively small Ypowered'engine or other motive force.- In Fig. '1, the parts are shown in the positions occupied at the termination of the lifting stroke. "At Vthis time, the release lend 'I0 of cam surface 64 is'just vabout to move past'carn` roller 6 9 to therebyv rellease the rocker.' arm and allow the-cable and `bit to fall by gravityfon a" cutting stroke. Immediately after the release ofthe rocker armby cam surface 64, fthe second c am surface 65 'picksup cam roller 69,' as shown in Fig. 8, and positively forces'the pulley endf20 of rocker arm I8 `up wardlyi. The design of cam surface 65, landthe rate of rotation of the cam disc,` are such that the pulley end of the'rocker armis forced upwardly at a rate faster'than the initial' part of the gravity fall of the bit., This affords 'slack in removing thel restraining anduretarding influence' of the rocker arm from the cable on the cutting cable I 6,' which provides a substantially free gravalready acquired substantial anomali stroke ofthe bitg'substantial-ly the full force produced by the free gravity fall of the bit-is utilized in actual drilling, thereby-obtaining,y increased drilling capacity and a*`v more ecient drilling Operation.

- Mounted on cross piece 'i2 carried' by'sidebraces 13 bolted to frames Ware-strong. leaf springs 14, 'as shown in Figs. 2 and 9. Two leaf springs are provided so as to overlie both beam-sof rocker arm 8, and are'so` positioned-vertically as to be contasted by the pulley end 20 of the rocker a'rmat substantiallythe endof the cutting stroke yof the bit.v Fig. 9 shows the cam discl andrelated parts in this Yposition ofv the cycle,` vand it' is seen that at thistirnel therelease endi'l5 ofl camlsurface 65 is approachingand is immediately adjacent vcam rol-ler 69.A V`In the normal operation of the drill, with the rates of rotation of the band wheel shaft 2|? within the rangefnormally used andl as mentioned above, theA falling'bit and-c ableytend` to catch up with` the upward movement-of roller end 20' of the rocker arm at substantially thelend of the cutting stroke, or at about the posi-tionindicatedV in Fig. 9. At this time, the'rocker arm has momentum of movement due tothe positive drive fromcam'surface B5, so that relatively littleforce producedby the falling drill is expended on the rocker'arm, as the cable becomes taut and imparts a resulting upward kick to the endv of the rocker arm.y This causes' the rocker armto move sharply intol engagement with spring bumpers '|`4,'b'ec`ause cam rollers 69 are free to move'upwardly away fromcam surfaces 65v under the force of the kick or pull imparted to the rocker armby the bit and cable. The bit` has now reached the bottom 'of the bore of the Well and has performed a r cutting stroke, and during this' intervalthe release end I5 of cam surface 65 has moved beyond camfroller 69;."1The resiliency 'of'spring 'bumpers-14" then.

produces a sharp rebound downwardly of `'pulley end'2'0jof the rockerarnr to give.` afsharp upward jerk onjthecableand bit. -This is valuable in Vef'- fecting the release of"the*bit should ittenlj to stick. Itis found, particularly in drilling through certainV marlsand' sticky clays, thata sharp tug or jerk of comparatively small magnitude will eiect the release of a bit which tends'vto" stick, where a steady pullofc onsiderablygreater magnitude; even suicient tobreakthe cable, will not doso'. The present cam drive thus 4n ot' o nl`y provides a substantially free gravity falr of the bit on the cutting stroke butV also givesarelease-kick or `'erk tothe bit at the'end of the' cutting'stroke and before the lifting stroke has begun.` Shortly after the 'release kick has been imparted tothe cable and bit, the cam" surface dagain picks up V'camroller-BS in the position ofFig. Gforthe liftingstroke of the bit, and the cycle is repeated. 'i The' present device `and easily controlled mechanism'for adjusting the length of stroke of the,bi't,and Without interrupting the drilling operation. As Apreviously described, cable I6 passes alongthe rocker arm |f8 under pulleys 20 and 2 and o ver spool 23;: and ythence between guide rollers 24f and- 25'." The -guide rollers are mountedat their opposite `ends in adjustable framesf'll. Each frame is pivotally connected at itsI upperfen'd toI alink 18, which in turn is pivoted to an in`cli'ned'-A frame membe1j19l vThe lov/erend'y of each` 'frame Ifl'is pivotally connected `at 8:0 to a crank arm 'Sikeyed to a cross shaft 02` rotatably mountedin bear'- ings 9135011" sideframes I0.` Shaft 8'2 extendsutwardly 'beyond "oney of :the bearings- 83' and has 4this mechanism, the

also provides an effective4 fastened theretd a sector' 84 carrying worm-1 teeth which mesh withfa worm mountedona shaft `86l which extends-along therframemember |0f to the'l oDeratorsf-end of the? drill. 1 *At this end,

tion' of' thelatter ein one direction willfcajuse rotation of shaftg82to swing crank arms'- 8| clockwise 'and `upwardly (as vshown in Fig. l0)

Ato=-raifse vertically frame members yIl5 and rollers n -Zllf 'and 25" carried thereby, '|36' overspool 23" isA above the norm-a1 range of movement of the spool duringthe'foscillation of therockerfarm. The throw ofjthe pulley end 20v of the rocker arm-will then determine-the extent 'of the stroke 'of the drill, `and will provide l'the l wardlyin' an inverted V-shape between pulley 2l and rollers 24 and 25 on eachl oscillation `of .the rocker arm, to therebyprovide'an increased .stroke ofthe drill. The maximumstroke is that illustrated in'Fig. 3, where the rollers l21| and 25 untilthe run ofi cable f arev l.adjusted downwardlyl until the run ofthe Q cable contacts with spool 23 whenthespool is at the lower -'end of its oscillating stroke. With cam drive and' related' parts remain undisturbed as to-their operative lassembly, while adjustment of the-stroke of the drill is easilyand quickly effected fromthe operators end of the machinewithout interrupting the drilling operation.

As drillingl proceeds andv the'l well becomes gradually fed out or unwound.

deeper, cable I0 is from the reel or bull wheel 26. i The'present in. 'vention provides means for. positively driving the reel'and accurately controllingfr the rate of feed of the cable.v As shown, the reel is mounted on aj shaft 89 journaled in bearings 90 carriedby the inclined frames 19," which latter-'are bracedv by strapsl bolted to side frames |0,'and' by brace bars 92 fastened to `'uprig'lntsr 93 carried at .the ends of frame members l0.v Shaft 89 is extended 'outwardly' beyond onek of the'bearings 90 and lhaskeyed thereto a worm Wheel 95 meshing with va wormv96mounted on a shaft 91 journaled fin.

bearings 98 carried 'by` a the inclined frame '|9- and brace 9|'. Shaft 91 is frame piece 99vk bolted to Sily connected by a'universal coupling |0| toa shaft |02, which is in turnconnected by universal coupling' |03 to a shaft |04 rotatably eccentric bushingsf|05 (Figs. 1 2 and 13), jourmounted in naled for pivotal movement in socketsin the ends of'upstanding posts |05. i

Keyed toshaft |04 to rotate therewith and rto slide axially therealong isa friction p'ulleyfv |08 ,fastenedt'o a collar |09. Pulley |08 is ladapted to bear against the side of a friction wheel-H0 pinned toband Wheel shaftv 29. Each fofbushings |05 lis formed with an earr |2`y at the side 0f the adjacent arms |06. Ears ||2`arepivotall`y connectedy to the-upper endsofl the links H, which inv turn are pivotally connected attheir lower ends'to crank trol shaft IIE journaled on side frame 0 and provided atthe operators end of the machine Vwith a vhand control lever `In the position of lever l|`|,'| shown in Fig.' 1,. bushings |05 and shaft |04 are in the "positions illustrated in Fig.

arms 5 carried by a con-y etv f 13 inwhich shaft |04 is spacedawayfromfridnon when no Serrat friction pulley, mjsisfout of Contact therewith; with'tne drive tiothebil cable for. removing wheel therebyfdisconnected. By :turning lever downwardly, arrns||5 arerotated downfvvardly to thereby'shift, through the` connecting links H4, lthevbushings |05I lnto= the position shown in; Fig.` 12, in 'which shaft, A04-is shifted toward friction wheel I l0, and the frictionpulley lisithereby brought into, driven engagement with friction wheel I l0. lRotation of band wheel shaft 29 -will thereby drive, through lfriction wheel I I0 and pulley. |08 and theY interconnected shafting, theworm 96 to thusrotate worin wheel ,95 ,andthe bull :wheel shaft. I v H, ,l Y

In the positionof the Vparts shown in jrlig..k 1, withfrction-pulley |08 on vtherleft hand sideof thevertical axis of the band wheelV shaft 29,l the bull wheel is rotated in a direction tol feed out ,cable to allow.. the bit to lpenetrate deepen.- as ...drilling proceeds. lIihe rateof rotation of the bull wheel for a given R. P. -lVLof the `band wheellsha'ft is controlled by varying .the radialdisplacement of the position of contact of friction pulley |08 .with friction wheel 'l I 0. This is yaccomplished by axial,-

ly'slidingffriction pulley |08 along vshaft |04..' 'As` Ysvhowrnlalforked lever riding -in groove Y|20 Vof collar li'isfpivotally connected totheslotted end of a.1ink|2|.,which is in turn pivoted to fthe' end ofan extensible and collapsiblelinlsa'ge.A The latteneomprisesalink |22. which `is...pivot'ed intermediate its endsto a linkl23, and at itsend vto a link |24; the latteris pivot'ed'intermediate its endsto avlinkf|25, andat its end tofthe side of jpostQIIJG. Link .|25 is alsofpivoted-Y at one end to link |23, and at its'opposite end'. to @connecting ,rjd .lznwmch is in tui-'n pivotauyl connectent@ a hand lever |28 jourhaled at |20"on side. frame I0. A .pawl |k operated byffingejr"` control .ISI

mounted onlever |28,` cooperates witha toothed `sector `|32 bolted' to the frame, to hold lever 4|28 and friction. pulley .|08 in,a'djustedpositionil By :releasing pa'wl |30 androtatingleverl |28.cl'o,ckf

wise (as shown inFig, 1), thedi'nkage Iis 'extended further to shift pulley .|08 -toward the:1eft,ft,o -thereby. increase the rate of feed or.,unwi,nd of the .drill cable from bull wheel26 for a 'given rate lof rotation of. the band wheelfshaft. By shifting vlever;l 28 counter 'clockwise to fthe' extreme.r` .end lof its stroke, the linkage is collapsed to .shift fric- .tion pulley |08 to the right into the position shown in Figll, in which the pulleyisl onthe rightv hand sideof .the vertical axis of y.band 'wheel shaft 29 .and adjacent =the periphery of friction wheell I0. This will drive the bull wheel at a comparatively rapid ratein. the opposite direction to rewind the bore of thewell.- The drive thus :enables lthe bull lwheel to be positively driven inopposite directions for unwinding and revvinding'y of thecafble respectively, from amotive source having a unidirectional movement; and: enables a common lmotive source to be used for` the drilling operation and thefeedof the cable, with a coordinatedand instantly adjustable speedfratio therebetween.,v vThe'present device also provides assimplified andeffectivedrive for the sand bucket cable, togetherV with aneasily operated control. therefor.

As shown particularly in Figs. land 14,.-'reel |36 i .for the sandbucket cable isprovided with a shaft |31 Vwhich is journaled in bearings |38 mounted c mcros'sbraceV The cable Mtl-passes Vupwardly from reel |36 yaround pulley. |`4| jour,- naled adjacent'the upper end of uprights I2 below the drill cable pulley 5,and thence downwardly to suspend a conventional type o f' sand lbucket (not shown) within the bore 'of th'ewell', when the 4downwardly the drilling tools from the engagement Vtive drive'isthus obtained bull, wheelV 26 to lower the drilling-toolswithin the well.. `When thebitreaches the bottom of the vconnect the drive, and lever |28 `toward the thencable as control .lever. |50 by adjustable link ISZis-abar ;|53 having@ longitudinal slot |54 formed therein,y vRiding in slot |54`fis a pnf |55 t0 whichfare vConf nected arms |56,.thelowerendsot which straddle the upper endof slotted bar |53,`and the upper ends of which: extend toOpPQSitesides of a fric? tionpulley |58and are pivotally connected to ShatJSSof-the friction pulley. Also pivotally 'connected to vshaft |59` on opposite ysides of pulley l,4, 4i.mounted Orl-Shaft l |58. are armsl |60 whichuare interconnected at their outergends'by a pinr.|6| operating inslot '162 @rfa bar `lteifastened. to upright i12. 'nnenrangementy of. the pulley |58. and friction i wheel |44 is such. that they are in alignment witheach .tionedand adjusted that asthe lever 50 is rocked y n from lthe positionshown in Figs. fl and 14, brakev 43 is first released from .the friction [wheel |44, and further .downward movement of lever |50 will 'then Vbring .frictionlpulley 58 into position to transmit. a drive from friction wheel ||0;to frictionfwheel |44 to thereby rotate the sand bucket reel in a direction to` wind up the cable |40 thereon, and liftv the sandifbucket froml thewell. N (The operationof the device is thoughtlappa'rent from the vforegoing description when taken .in connection with the accompanying drawing. Tobegin a drilling operation,"with the 'drivey to theband wheel 28V connectedtonrotate shaft 29 .and ywith.clutchcontrolflever 60 inl-the position shown in Fig.l 3 in which the clutchldrive to the cam discs is disconnected, the operator then guides the drilling tools attached to. the vfend of cable II6 vinto'the upperendfofthe bore of the well.` The worm drive 95-.96 to. theflbull, `wheel is such as to Ipreventthe. weight 'of the drilling toolsffromV rotating the 'bull wheel, to; thereby avoidfthe danger of lthe toolsfallingat run"- away. speed. intothe well. v`fHand lever |28'.is' then rocked clockwise,. as, shown "in Fig. 1,'tofmove frictionpulley-IDS toward .the periphery of fric;- tion wheel [I0 ontheleft'ha'nd side of fthe4 ver'- tical laxis of -the band Wheel' shaft `29... Lever. |,Il is thenrocked to throw the frictionpulley into with friction lwheellI |0, and a'posi'- to 'feed out .cable from well, lever ||1 isfthenreturned `to position to -`dis,-

i K is then rocked counterclockwise to .I nove` frictionpulley |00 .in y a axis` of friction `whee1||0 to obtain a regulatedfeed'of the cable for drilling.; .lCltch lever 60" is l, then actuated to engage .the clutch and 'rotate cam discs 34 and 3,5l to oscillate rocker arm |8 inthe manner previously-described; and any necessaryiadjust'ment ofthe rate oflfeed of n 'the rdrilling proceedsis e'ffectedby the/control levers ||1 and .|28 inthe `rnanner .other andwith theifriction'wheel ||0.'-'V Thein; terconnection to the control lever |50 issopropor'- for reciprocating the cable to 2,011,44494. eiected by lmanipulation oi' the bit may also be of the :hand wheel `'l tion.

When the bore of the well needs to b'e cleaned out by the sand bucket, clutch lever 6D is thrown to ydisconnect the cam drive to the rocker arm, levers |11 land |2-8 are manipulated .to position the friction pulley |08 adjacent the periphery of friction wheel HIJ at the right side of the vertical axis as shownin Fig. 11, which will then positively drive bull wheel 26 in the opposite direction to rewind the cable and raise the bit from the Well. When this is accomplished, lever IH is actuated to disconnect the friction drive during the drilling operato 'the bull wheel, the drilling tools and cable l5,

are moved out of the way, the sand bucket and cable |40 areA guided into position at the upper end of the bore of the well, and then are lowered at a controlled rate by 'moving lever lil downwardly to release brake |43 from frictionk wheel |44 suiliciently to allow the sand bucket to descend, the lever being released from time -to` time to allow vspring |48 to apply the brake to check the. descent; When the sand bucket hasbeen Vlowered to the bottom of the well and has filled, lever |50 is then moved downwardlyto entirely release brake |43 and to bring friction pulley |58 into position to transmit a drive from friction wheel |||J to friction Wheel |44 to thereby rotate reel |36 in the opposite direction and positively wind up cable |49 to lift the sand bucket from the well. The cycle of operations is then repeated.

It is to be noted that Vthe operation of the drilling apparatus is eiiected without stopping or reversing the' direction of drive ofthe band wheel shaft 29, and without disconnecting the drilling tools or sand bucket from their respective cables. The entire operation is easily and conveniently controlled by manipulation of a comparatively few levers or manual control members positioned at the operators end of the machine.

While the form of apparatus herein disclosed constitutes' a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not' limited to this precise form, and that changes may be made therein without depart ing from the scopeof 'the invention as dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina welldrilling apparatus having a cable suspending a drilling bit within the bore of the well, a rocker arm cooperating with theV cable provide impactsv of the bit against the bottom of the bore of the well, a driving member, and a releasable driving connection between said driving member and said rocker arm for oscillating said rocker arm comprising means for moving the rocker arm to provide an upstroke to the cable and bit, said means having provisions for releasing its driving connection at the termination ofthe upstroke, and additional means for then positively moving the rocker arm in the opposite direction at a rate faster than the initial part of the resulting gravity fall of the bit and cable to thereby provide slack in` the cable 'to givel a substantially free gravity fall ofthe bit on the cutting stroke, andmeans providing rebound of the rocker arm at the end of its cutting stroke, said releasable connection enabling said rocker arm to move away from the driving connection on said rebound. to impart a sharp upward jerk on the 1 cable and bit.

2. In-a well drilling apparatus having acable suspendinga drilling bit within the bore Yof ther well, a rocker arm cooperating with the` cable for reciprocating the cable toprovide impacts of the .bit `against the :bottom of' thebore ofthe well, a driving member, and a driving connection between said. driving member and said rocker arm for oscillating said rocker arm `comprising means for movingtherocker arm to provide an upstroketo the cable andjbit, saidmeans having provisions. for releasing ,its-driving connectionat the termination of theupstroke,l andfadditional means forthen positively Imoving the rocker arm in the opposite direction l initial part of the resulting gravity lfall of the bit 'and cable to thereby provide slack the cable toT give -a substantially v M bit on. the'cutting stroke, said additional vmeans having provisions for-releasing its drivinggcon.- nection to the rocker 'arm should thebit and cable catch up with therocker arm during the latter partof its movement-in thev opposite direction, so that the -rocker`arm-is free to move awa'yffrom the drivingconnectionunder theforce of the jerk imparted tothe rockerarmby the bit andcable. Q r 'i f 3. In a well drilling apparatus having a cable suspending a drilling bit within tne'bore ofthe well, a rocker arm cooperating with the cable for reciprocating the cable to provide impacts of the bit against the bot-tom ofthe bore of the well, a driving member, and a cam driving connection between said driving member and saidrocker arm for oscillatingsaid rocker arm, com-l prising-one cam member for positively VVmoving the rocker arm in one directiontoimpartan'11p-4 stroke tothe bit, and a second cam member for positively moving the rocker arm in anl opposite direction to remove weight of the rocker arm from the cable and provide a substantiallyfree gravity fall of thebit on the cutting stroke there-v of, said second cam member having a discontinuous surface 'to enable said rocker arm to move awayfromthe saidcam-.member 'inthe event that the fall of the bit :and consequent movement of the cable impart a jerk to the rocker arm.. -V

4. In a well drilling apparatus having acable. suspending a drilling bit within thebore of the well, a rocker arm` cooperating with @the` cable for reciprocating the cable to provide '.impacts of the bit against the bottom of the boreof the well, a band wheel, a rotary cam member driven by the band wheel, and a cam roller ycarried by the rocker arm cooperating with the cam, mem. ber, saidV cam vmember having onediscontinuous cam surface along which the rollerlmoves on the upstroke of the bit, and a second discontinuous cam surface along which the-roller moves on the cutting 'stroke of the bit to Vpositively remove weight of the rocker arm fromlthe` cable .and provide slack in the 'cable'soas to insure a vsubstantially freegravity fall of the bit,` the said two cam surfaces being spaced apart a `distance substantially greater than `the diameter `of said camv roller. o u

5..Ina well drillingv apparatus-having a cable suspending a drilling bit within the bore of the well, a rocker arm having an end cooperating with the cable for. reciprocating the cable to provide impacts of the bit against the bottom .of the bore of the well, a band wheeL-a rotary cam member driven by the band wheel, and a cam roller carried by the rockerarm cooperating with the cam member, said cam member havingone at a rate faster than the free gravity fall ofthe loi cam surfaceralong the outer side of which the weight of the rocker arm from the cable and pro-v p vide'a substantially free gravity fall of the bit.

c6. In a well drilling apparatus having a cable suspending a drilling bit Within the bore of the well, a rocker arm cooperating with the cable for reciprocating the cable to provide impacts of the bit againstthe bottom of the bore of the well,

a driving member, a driving connection between said driving member and said rocker arm for oscillating said rocker'arm comprising means for moving thevrocker arm provide an upstroke; to

the cable and bit, said -means'having provisions for releasing'its driving connection at the termination of the upstroke, additional means for then positively moving the rocker arm inthe opposite direction at a rate faster than the initial part'of the resulting gravity vfall of the bit .and cable to thereby provide slackA in 'the cable to give a substantially free gravity fall of the bit on the cutting stroke, saidl additional means having provisions for Vreleasing its driving connection to the rocker arm when the bitand cablecatch up withthe rockerarm during the latter part of its movement inthe opposite direction, so' that the cable imparts a jerk to the rocker arm to thereby increase its momentum at the end of the cutting stroke ofthe bit, and-a resilient bumper posi-V tioned to contact `with the rocker arm at the end of the cutting stroke of the vbit to thereby cause the rocker arm to ,rebound and impart a sharp jerk upwardly on the cable and bit just priorlto the time Vthe first mentioned means picks up the rocker arm for the upstroke of the bit.

'7. Ina Well drilling apparatus having a cable suspending a drilling bit within the bore of the well,v a rocker arm cooperating with the cable for reciprocating thev cabletoprovide impacts of the bit against the bottom of the bore of the well, a driving Vmember, and a cam vdriving connection between said driving me ber and said rocker arm for oscillating said rocker arm, comprising one cam member for positively moving the rocker arm in one` directionto impart an upstroke to the bit, said cam member then releasing the rocker arm for a gravityfall of the bit onthe cutting stroke, a second cam member for positivelymoving the rocker arm in an Yopposite direction to remove Weight of the rocker .arm from the cable and provide a substantially free' gravity fall of the bit on the cutting'stroke, vsaid second cam member having provisions for releasing the rocker arm near the end of the cutting stroke of the bit, and a strong spring bumperv positioned to` contact with the rocker arm at the end of the cutting stroke-of the bit to cause the rocker arm to rebound and impart a sharp jerkupwardly on' the cable and bit just prior to the time the first men` tioned cam member picks up the rocker arm for the'upstroke ofthe bit.

8. Ina well drilling apparatus having a cable suspending ajdrilling bit Within the bore of `the we1la rocker arm pivoted, intermediate its ends and having oneend cooperating with the cable for reciprocating* the cable-to provide impacts' f the bit against the bottom of the bore. of the well,

said cable extending from sa1d mentioned .end of the rocker arm along 'the rockerarm' andi past the other end thereof; means beyond the 'other 1 end of the'rcck'er arm for receiving'thevcablejand means for adjusting the position of saidmeans for varying the extent ofcontact ofthe said 'other' end of the rockeria'rm with the adjacent runcf the' cable upon oscillation of the rocker arrr'to thereby vary the extentof stroke of the bit.. 'F

v9. In a well drilling `apparatus 'having az cable suspending a'drilll bit within the'boreof the well;V arocker arm pivoted intermediate!l its ends for oscillating movement, the cablep'assing under one end of the'rocker' arm so as to'be reciprocatedby oscillation ofthe rockerfarm to provizleiml pacts of the bit against the bottom; of the bore ofl the well, the cable extendingifrombeneath said one end of the rockerarmfalong the rocker-'ami and above the opposite end "ofthe-armfmeans beyond the opposite endY of the rocker arm for're#A ceiving and. guiding the cable-comprising a pair' of rollers through which the cable. passes, 'and' means for vertically adjusting said rollers'- to thereby vary the position of the'run `rof the cable above the said opposite end of the rocker. arm and K consequently vary theiextent Yof contact of fthersaid lopposite end of the arm withthe cable to' vary thel stroke of the bit; saidadjustingmeans providing ready; adjustment of the strokepf the bit during drilling operation." f l' 10. In a well drilling apparatus having a cable suspendinga drilling bit -within the'bore of the Well, a bull `wheel having areelonwhich said cable is woundfand from-which it isunwound as drilling. proceeds, a [cable guidingr member receiving said cable as it passes from said f reel, a rocker arm pivoted intermediateits ends; said cable passing from said gui'ding'member above the adjacent end of .said rocker armandunder the opposite end of saidarmi and thence to` saidl` bit, a band wheel, a driving connection from saidbandV wheel to saidrocker arm tofoscillatesaid rockerarm to'thereby reciprocate said cable to provide impacts-of the bitagainst the bottom of theibore of the well,--and"mean's'for vertically adjustingthe position ofsaid cable guiding mem'- ber :fromfan upper=position in which the? run of the cable over the adjacentendVV of `said rocker arm is above the normal range of lmovement 'of said adjacent end-ofthe. arm so "that Y the vstroke of the bit isequal tol the stroke'of the rocker arm;`

`to a lower position in'which the run of the cable is in the path of movement of thesaid adjacent end 'of the rocker arm to thereby increasethel stroke of the bit. Y i S 1:1

11. Ina well-drilling apparatusv having a cable suspending a drilling bit within the bore yof the well, a reel 1on which said cable is woundv and from which it isunwound as drilling proceeds, a rocker arm cooperating with 'the cable -to reciprocate the cable andprovide impacts 'off the bit against the bottom ofthe bore 'ofthewelL a band wheel 4"and shaft (driven thereby, a driving connection from saidfbandwheel and shaftto said rocker arm to oscillate said rockerarm and there'- by reciprocate said cable and bit, a friction wheel driven from said band wheel shaft, a friction pulley engaging the surface of saidfriction wheel'. to be driven thereby,-'a driving connectionifrom said Vfriction pulley to said reel,"and means'for adjusting the contacting .positionv of Ysaid pulley with respect to-s'aidfriction wheel from one'side `of the axis of the said Wheel to the" other side F thereof to provide a positive drive of said reel for both unwinding and rewinding of the cable for down and up feed respectively Yof said bit, said adjusting means also having provisions for adjusting the distance of the contacting positionfrom the axis of said friction wheel to thereby vary the rate of unwinding and rewinding of said cable for a given speed of said band wheel shaft.

12. In a well drilling apparatus having a cable suspending a drilling bit within the bore of the well, a reel on which said cable is wound and from which it is unwound as drilling proceeds, a rocker arm cooperating with the cable to reciprocate the cable and provide impacts of the bit against the bottom of the bore of the well, a band wheel and shaft driven thereby, a driving connection from said band wheel and shaft to said rocker arm to oscillate said rocker arm and thereby reciprocate said cable and bit, a friction wheel driven from said band wheel shaft, a friction pulley engaging the surface of said friction wheel to be driven thereby, a shaft on which said friction pulley is mounted for rotation therewith and for axial movement therealong, a driving connection between said shaft and the said reel, a manual control member, and a collapsible and extensible linkage interconnecting said manual control member and said pulley for sliding said pulley along its shaft from one side of the axis of said friction wheel to the other side thereof to provide both unwinding and rewinding movements of said reel for down and up feed respectively of said bit, said manual control member and linkage also providing adjusting movement of the pulley radially from the axis of the friction wheel to thereby vary the rate of unwinding and rewinding of said cable for a given speed of said band wheel shaft,

13. In a well drilling apparatus having a cable suspending a drilling bit within the bore ofthe well, a reel on which said cable is wound and from which it is unwound as drilling proceeds, a rocker arm cooperating with the cable to reciprocate the cable and provide impacts of the bit against the bottom of the bore of the well. a band wheel and shaft driven thereby, a driving connection from said band wheel and shaft to said rocker arm to oscillate said rocker arm and thereby reciprocate said cable and bit, a friction wheel driven from said band wheel shaft, a friction pulley engaging the surface of said friction wheel to be driven thereby, a shaft on which said friction pulley is mounted for rotation therewith and for axial movement therealong, an eccentric mounting for said pulley shaft, means for varying the position of said eccentric mounting to thereby move the said pulley out of and into contact with said friction wheel at will, and means for varying the position of said pulley along its shaft to thereby vary the direction and rate of rotation of said pulley, and a driving connection from said friction pulley to said reel.

14. In a well drilling apparatus, a band wheel, a shaft driven thereby, a friction wheel driven from said band wheel shaft, a driving connection from said band wheel and shaft for operating a drill, a cable for suspending a sand bucket .within the bore of the well, a reel for said sand bucket cable, a friction pulley for transmitting a drive from said friction wheel to said reel, a movable mounting for said friction pulley for connecting and disconnecting the said drive, a. manual control lever, a brake connected to said manual control lever to be moved thereby, spring means for normally urging said lever into position to apply said brake to saidreel, and aninterconnection between said lever i tion pulley inv position to establish a driving connection between said friction wheel and said reel after said brake has been removed from braking engagement with said reel.

l5. In a well drilling apparatus having a cable suspending a drilling bit within the bore of the well, a rocker armvcooperating with the cable for reciprocating it to provide impacts of the bit against the bottom of the bore of the well, said rocker arm being arranged to contact with and flex said cable to provide an increased stroke of said bit for a given movement of said rocker arm, a band wheel and shaft driven thereby, a cam drivebetween said band wheel andfshaft and the said rocker arm for oscillating the rocker arm,

and means independent of the said cam drive for varying the stroke of said bit for a given movement of said rocker arm, said means comprising a member for varying the position of said cable with respect to said rocker armto thereby vary the amount of flexing of said cable for the said given movement of said rocker arm, said last mentioned means providing adjustment of the stroke without discontinuing drilling operation.

16. In a well drilling apparatus having a cable suspending a drilling bit within the bore of'a well, a pivoted rocker arm cooperating with saidk cable for reciprocating the latter toprovide impacts of the bit against the bottom of the bor-e of the well, driving means for oscillating said rocker arm, a member carried by said rocker arm on one side of the pivot thereof around which said cable passes, the cable extending from said member longitudinally along said rocker arm to the other side of the pivot thereof, a second member carried by said rocker arm at the said other side of the pivot thereof adapted to contact therewith and flex said cable toprovide an increased stroke of said bit for a given movement of said rocker arm, and means for varying the position-of said cable with respect to said second `member to thereby vary the amount of iiexing'of said cable for the said given movement of the rocker, arm.

extending rearwardly from the pulley along the said bars and upwardly through the space between them to the upper side thereof, driving means for oscillating said rocker arm, a member carried by the b-ars at the other sideof the pivotal mounting thereof and adapted to contact with and flex the cable extending thereabove into an inverted V-shape to thereby increase the stroke of the bit for a given movement of the rocker, arm, means beyond the said member for receiving the cable, and mechanism for vertically adjusting said receiving means to thereby vary the vertical positioning of said cable with respect to said member, and thus vary the extent of nexrocker arm.

ESTA I. sHoE. FoRREsT o. LANDIs. 

